Clothes retainer



Dec. 19, 1961 H. B. SOPHIEA 3,013,424

CLOTHES RETAINER Filed Sept. 24, 1958 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofiiice 3,013,424 Patented Dec. 19, 1961 3,013,424IJLOTHES RETAINER Helen B. Sophiea, 2514 Lothrop Ave, Detroit, Mich.Filed Sept. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 763,034 1 Ciairn. ll. 6S--23) Myinvention relates to washing machines and in particular to a clothesretainer than can be used with washers of a known type to preventclothes from getting caught between the drum and the casing.

On certain types of washing machines there is a clearance between thedrum and the casing. often clothes escape from the drum and lodge inthisopening or pass through it and are caught between the drum and thecasing. Inasmuch as it is expensive to have this condition rectified bya repairman, it is most desirable that means be found to prevent it fromoccurring both in existing Washers as well as in those to bemanufactured in the future.

In view of this, my invention comprises a simple flexible closure-typeretainer or trap that can be mounted on the drum of washers subject tothe above defect. It acts to close the top of the drum and thereforeprevent the escape of clothes to the space between the drum and thecasing. Nevertheless, it is of such construction that it does notinterfere with the normal usage of the washing machine.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which FIGURE1 is a vertical section, partly broken away, and with parts removed, ofa washing machine embodying the invention. FIGURE 2 is a perspectiveview of structure embodying the invention. FIG- URE 3 is a section alongthe line 33 of FIGURE 1 and shows the invention in plan. FIGURE 4 is asection along the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

The washing machine 1 which is illustrated in the drawings typifies aknown make which has been sold in large quantities. It comprises acasing 3 which has an opening 5 through which clothes are inserted andremoved. The opening 5 is closed by a lid 6.

Inside the casing 3 is a rotatable drum 7 which is suitably mounted uponand driven by a spindle 9 through means not shown herein. There is anopening 11 at the top of the drum 7, and it will be observed that thisopening and the top of the drum are spaced below the bottom of theopening 5. It is through this space that clothes can pass from theinside of the drum 7 to the chamber 13 surrounding the drum.

In order to prevent clothes from moving into the space just mentioned, Iemploy a closure or trap device 15. This is preferably constructedentirely of wire. In my preferred form there are three concentric wirecircles 17, 19, and 21, respectively. The circle 17 is preferably of thesame diameter as the opening 11. The circle 19 is preferably of the samediameter as the opening 5. The circle 21 is less in diameter than thedrum 7. Angle shaped wire pieces 23 are rigid with the circles and holdthem in their spaced, concentric positions, preferably being attached tothe bottoms of the Wires by welding or the equivalent. The outer ends ofthe pieces 23 are bent at right angles to extend perpendicularly to theplane of the circles and thus form a series of legs. H0les26 are drilledin the top of the drum'7 and the legs 25 ex- Surprisingly with the drumbecause of the connection afforded by the legs 25.

In washing machines of the type shown it is common for the top of thespindle 9 to carry a pan shaped lint catcher 27. A series ofsemi-circularly shaped wire pieces 29 are pivotally attached at theirends to the inner circle 17 and are of such size that they extendinwardly to about the outer diameter of the member 27 as can be seen inFIGURE 3. It is important that the ends of the Wire loops 29 be bentupwardly from the bottom around the outside and top of the circle 17 sothat the wires can be pivoted upwardly rather easily but tend in loweredposition to remain in a fairly flat position as shown in FIGURE 1 ratherthan pivot downwardly. As can be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, adjacent legsof the loops 29 overlap and are alternately on top and beneath theadjacent loops 29. Thus, the entire group of loops 29 fold upwardly andoutwardly when one of them is grasped tend loosely in them, the device15 simply resting loosely on top of the drum 7. The device obviouslywill rotate and pulled upwardly. In such position they will extendwithin the opening 5 and provide an opening into the drum 7 that issubstantially the same size as the drum opening 11. Furthermore, theloops will tend to remain in the upward position until forced back downto the flat, horizontal position shown in the drawings.

In operation of the washing machine the device 15 will rotate with itand because the loops 29 overlie the space between the device 27 and theopening 11 clothes can not escape to become lodged between the top ofthe drum and the casing.

It is clear that this device can be applied as an accessory to washingmachines already in the field, as well as be built into futureproduction.

While I have illustrated the preferred form of my invention it will beapparent that the principles thereof may be embodied in otherconstruction without departing from the spirit and scope of thefollowing claim.

I claim: In washing machines of the type described, which washingmachines have a casing and a drum inside the casing, said casing havingan opening and said drum having a smaller opening in alignment with saidcasing opening but spaced from the casing opening, a clothes retainercomprising a support frame mounted on the drum in the space between thedrum opening and the closure opening, said support frame havingoverlapping wire loops hinged thereon and forming flexible membersextending inwardly over and closing the outer portion of the drumopening, said flexible members being movable transversely to the druminto the casing opening.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

